Sarah Vanneste

Sarah Vanneste obtained her Master’s degree in Law from KU Leuven in 2018. During her final Master’s year, she studied for a semester in Uppsala, Sweden. She completed her academic curriculum in 2019 with an LL.M. in International Business Law at King’s College London. During her studies, Sarah had a preference for corporate law, which motivated her to intern at the Cabinet of former Minister Geens when the current Companies and Associations Code was being drafted. She also completed several summer internships at law firms, including the independent Belgian law firm Janson. In 2019, she began her bar internship in the Dispute Resolution department. During her internship, Sarah assisted banks, SMEs (from various sectors), shareholders, and directors. She also gained her first pleading experience before the Belgian courts. Three years later, she transitioned to the Litigation team of the international firm Allen & Overy. She supplemented her primarily national experience with complex, often cross-border, procedures and arbitrations (including for CEPANI). Sarah also drafted several hundred contracts as part of the restructuring of the network of independent bank agents of a major Belgian bank. Finally, Sarah gained experience in internal investigations in various matters. Sarah combined her regular casework with the role of co-manager at the Belgian level of pro bono work for non-profit organizations. At VS Advocaten, Sarah focuses on corporate law cases, advising shareholders and directors in both litigious and non-litigious contexts. She also handles cases in the broader field of business law. Additionally, Sarah has a particular interest in art law and has assisted several prominent Belgian art centers and museums in insurance-related disputes and ownership claims.

Sarah attaches great importance to the societal role of the lawyer and strives to make a positive contribution to society. She combines her passion for charity work and knowledge of association law to assist non-profit organizations with advice and support. She is also actively involved in promoting an inclusive society with equal opportunities for everyone. In 2024, she was appointed as one of the eleven members of the Council of Inclusion and Diversity, which aims to formulate recommendations for the policy of the Order of Flemish Bars.